The 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day roster has come into focus over the past week as manager Dave Roberts confirmed the club will carry 16 pitchers and 12 position players to begin the season.
While there are still some decisions to be made in the bullpen, the Dodgers’ Opening Day starting rotation will consist of Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin.
Roberts previously named Buehler the team’s Opening Day starter against the Colorado Rockies but still isn’t sure what the rest of the order will look like. “I don’t know. I think that we’re set as far as the five guys that are going to start the games,” Roberts said.
“I just don’t know what order. I know Walker is going to start Game 1, but as far as two, three, four and five, I just don’t see where we’re going to be with that. I know Heaney won’t be pitching in Colorado. But the other three guys, we’re still trying to sift through.”
With Roberts revealing Heaney won’t start during the Dodgers’ three-game series at Coors Field, that leaves Kershaw, Urias and Gonsolin for the remaining two contests.
Kershaw started in the team’s Cactus League finale against the San Francisco Giants last week. If the left-hander follows Buehler in the second game against the Rockies, his start would be on six days’ rest.
Urias last pitched in the Freeway Series opener and starting against the Rockies on Saturday would be on normal rest. Gonsolin pitched in relief against the L.A. Angels and a potential start Saturday would also be on normal rest.
If the Dodgers want all of their pitchers to start on extra rest, Kershaw would need to pitch on Saturday. That would push one of Urias or Gonsolin to Sunday and the other to early next week against the Minnesota Twins.
White likely to earn final spot in Dodgers bullpen
With the Dodgers deciding to carry 16 pitchers to begin the 2022 season, the final decision for their Opening Day roster seemingly has boiled down to how the bullpen will be finalized.
Locks for the Dodgers bullpen figure to be Tyler Anderson, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Craig Kimbrel, Evan Phillips, David Price and Blake Treinen. Victor Gonzalez and Alex Vesia appear to have spots on the Opening Day roster as well.
The same can likely be assumed for Justin Bruihl, who impressed after making his MLB debut last season. That would leave the Dodgers down to deciding between Garrett Cleavinger and Mitch White as the final relief pitcher.
Following the Dodgers’ loss to the Angels on Monday night, Roberts intimated White holds the inside track to be with the team to start the season because of his ability to provide length.
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